What to look for in a day care for infants?

Answer 1

Make sure they're not serial rapists.

Answer 2

Just like you are buying a house or a car. Be thourough. After all your kid is way more important than your house or car.

Get references from each provider in the day care center. Check and see that the diapers and waste are disposed of properly and the food and dining areas are in clean environments away from where they play. Check out the sinks and make sure there are some that are obviously for the kids to use (they are lower on the wall) Ask other parents. Ask other people in the same neighborhood about the center. Also ask the providers if you can stop by whenever unannounced. If they say no, then don't leave your child there. make sure there are enough providers. There should not be 1 adult and 30 screaming 2 year olds.
See all credentials. Ask about thier policy about picking the kids up. Like, my center only allowed parents and people on the parent's list that the center met ALONG with the parents in person to come pick the child up. You don't want a stranger picking your child up pretending to be a friend of the family.
Check out the other kids. Try to stop by one day when its pick up time and just ask the other parents about the place..

There is more, but Thats a good start.

Answer 3

Everyone is going to tell you to be sure it's clean, safe, licensed, etc.

There are a couple additional things I wish I'd thought of when I was looking for a place for my son. We chose an in-home daycare, because it was smaller and more personal.

However, this meant that the woman who ran it was the only caregiver and she also had a two-year-old. What this meant was there was no back-up in case of illness. Any time she was sick, her daughter was sick OR our son was sick we had to stay home from work.

The second part is an outside area to play. She initially took the little ones to the park (she had a helper for a couple hours), but I think it was too much for her and she started relying on videos. Even infants need a little fresh air, so I wish I'd picked a place with a backyard.

Answer 4

The environment must must must be clean. One thing to remember is that it is possible that your child may be going to that daycare as a toddler. Look for activities, arts and crafts, educational toys, things that will help your child grow through all stages of learning. Even as an infant, a child is learning many many things, even things we often don't think about. My 7 month old daughter is in daycare and I think its the best daycare in town. I have seen several daycares some better than others. The environment she is in looks just like a class room. Things are hung on the walls like the alphabet, numbers, pictures, ect. There are many many toys, ranging from infant through school age. There are sooo many things for her to do there. They go for walks daily, play at the park, sing songs. Ask what kind of activities they do. If they just stay inside, that is no fun.

Answer 5

I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and the 1st thing you want to do is visit the daycare unexpected! That way you can see everything you need to know. If you make an appt they may clean more and be on their best behavior. Each state varies in how many babies per adult. I'm in NH so it is 4-1 under a year old and the numbers go up with each age. You want to make sure there are age approved toys, a rug in room to crawl and lay upon, cribs that are updated, high chairs that are safe, stimulating things for baby, Mobil's, mirrors ect ect....Babies know who the good and bad people are.....if your baby screams bloody murder with the person who is suppose to be caring for them personally I would look at other day cares....Personally I have had my daughter in daycare while I worked in same building and I would rather have someone dealing with them who have experience with children of have their own then just someone out of school. Personal opinion. Being licensed just means that they have to report all injuries and how many kids they have to the state.....they also qualify for state grants by being licensed but licensed doesn't always mean better! You also want to make sure about what they provide for baby, diapers, formula, food ect ect. So, with saying that good luck!

Answer 6

First make sure they are licensed and certified in CPR. Check what the adult to child ratio is. You don't want there to be so many kids that the employees are overworked and can't devote proper time to the children. Cleanliness is a MUST !!!! Do they provide meals? and if they do are they healthy and who prepares them? How do they handle emergencies?....these are just a few, but let your instincts tell you if your comfortable. You will know if its the right place or not. Good Luck !!!

Merry Christmas !!!

Answer 7

I agree with the above statement as well as surveillance. You never know what could happen. How many children to one care taker.
Good Luck.

Answer 8

Cleanliness of the facility (including cleanliness protocols i.e. are gloves used during diaper changes, how often are workers required to wash thier hands , are toys and other equipment sterilized between uses, are cribs assigned and sterilized at the end of each day, etc.) You can contact your counties lisencing board for a report on the facility...

What is the baby to staff ratio (a good ratio is 3-4:1)

What is the facilities policy in regards to loving care (i.e. whe baby fusses will someone pick them up and rock and cudde them asap that's when a good staff to baby ratio is very important)

Is the facility regimented (I.e. are there schedules for diaper changes, feedings, etc.) yet flexible (i.e. If baby has a messy diaper between scheduled changes it's dealt with promptly)...

When my oldest daughter was an infant she was in day-care while I was in school the staff to baby ratio was 3:1 with the facilities director stepping in to rock and cuddle when needed... The staff was all older ladies (grandmother types) who delighted in cuddling and rocking babies... The facility assigned cribs and sterilized all toys and equipment between uses with cribs sterilized at the end of each day... The enviroment was colorful and stimulating for baby with the focus being placed on interaction with baby...

I would often arrive to pick my daughter up and a staff member would be rocking her or gently jiggling and interacting with her in a bouncer while rocking another baby... She received one on one care for each cry asap along with interaction and stimulation through out the day... In the 6 months she was in the facility I never arrived to find her in her crib unless she was asleep or going to sleep, she was always clean and dry, she never looked as if she had been crying without attention (i.e. red faced, sweaty, etc.) she never had a diaper rash from sitting in a fouled diaper waiting to be changed, and she always appeared happy to interact with the staff members cooing and gurgling..... All no matter what time I arrived to pick her up and times did vary often and without pattern....

I completely loved the facility she was in the workers were attentive and wonderful, treating each baby like a grandbaby to be loved on, cuddled and held as much as possible... When I finished school and she left the facility I was a bit sad because it was as if she was loosing 6 grandma's all of whom cried and cuddled her goodbye on her last day with them... One giving her a special hand knitted hat to keep in remembrance of her 6 surragate grannys... ( I still have the hat and will pass it on to my daughter when she has children of her own)...

If I were to have another infant in need of care I would definately look for a similar facility..

Answer 9

Your family. No Strangers....How could you leave the most precious and definsless thing in your life with a stranger that will see and experience all the firsts before you do.

Someone that LOVES your CHILD...not just doing it because it's a pay check.

Answer 10

CLEAN! MAKE SURE ITS CLEAN!! ALSO MAKE SURE THEY ARE LICENSED AS THEY ARE TRAINED IN CPR & FIRST AID FOR INFANTS WHICH IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. GET NUMBERS TO CALL AS REFERENCES. MAKE SURE THE SPACE THEY USE IS SAFE AND A WARM PLACE TO WANT TO BRING YOUR BABY.